10 Witchy or Magical Reccs for Kiddos & Middle Grade Readers

This month the blog is devoting an extra spotlight on content about all things witchy and magical. It’s something that’s always been near and dear to me as a reader since childhood. I absolutely adored getting lost in the pages of dark fantasy or exploring stories about magic and mysticism.

Whether your kiddo gets lost in their imagination quite easily, or wants to explore the world of New Age or Pagan religions, you’ll find something on this list for them! I did my best to also include some lighter fare for the kids who are a bit easily spooked, or prefer a little gentler sort of magic.

You’ll find a wide variety of topics and reading styles on this list, because I believe reading diversely includes the content delivery style as much as it does topic, author, or characters! Feel free to drop your favorite in the comments, too, so we can continue to build a great list as a community.

Brina: A Pagan Picture Book by Andrea Stein and illustrated by Cayce Matteoli

True Paganism and accurate “nature/earth magics” based religion is seriously an underserved topic in children’s literature and picture books. Finding this particular book is a pure delight! This picture book shows a very positive portrayal of modern practitioners of magic as opposed to the negative view of witches most kids books depict. If you’re looking to increase your child’s exposure to multiple religious outlooks, and give them a great option for diverse character representation, Bria is your gal! This book has absolutely beautiful large illustrations to keep non-readers rapt with attention, and provide enough context clues along with simple text for sight readers who are still learning. Perfect for toddlers and very early elementary grades.

Dorrie the Little Witch Series by Patricia Coombs

Young witch Dorrie is learning the ropes of her magical powers, and living as a witch with her family. Through a series of mishaps and mayhem, she learns a lot about herself and her abilities.

Full of wonderful life lessons, whimsical illustrations, and kid-friendly non-scary magic! A fantastic read-aloud for the littles, or perfect easy reader aimed at the elementary school set.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

While out for a nice flight with her familiars, a little witch loses some of her precious belongings. She must work together with her newfound friends on a wacky madcap adventure to recover her things and conquer her fears! A great read-aloud to focus on teamwork, friendship, and being brave. Perfect for toddlers through kindergarten or 1st grade readers.

The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

A young girl, Jessica, finds a frightening looking abandoned cat and takes him off the street, but instead of being rewarded with a kind and loving pet, she’s welcomed some dark, witchy forces into her life. Is the cat a witch’s familiar? Is the cat possessed by something otherworldly? Whatever the case, Jessica begins doing horrible, terrible things, but nobody seems to believe her motivations as to why. Can Jessica overcome her loneliness, fear, and anger and free herself of these terrifying circumstances? Recommended for older, braver kids in late elementary early middle school. 11-14+ age range. This book is not for the faint of heart. I read it as a child in 6th grade and was terrified. It’s heavy on tension and atmosphere, very dark and foreboding.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean
and adapted Coraline Graphic Novel illustrated by Craig P Russell

Coraline longs for things to be different, and just wants to have life as she wishes: adults never say no, you can have cake for breakfast, and there’s always something fun and interesting to do. When she finds a magical door to another world in her home, she steps in and excitedly discovers things are exactly that on the other side! Everything is bigger, better, and more exciting in the Other World, even Other Mother and Other Father who cater to her whims. But soon she begins to notice some things are not as they seem. When Other Mother and Other Father want to change Coraline and keep her forever, she must find courage to escape! Would be great for 3rd graders through early Middle School. It is a little creepy and dark and spooky.

The Junior Witch’s Handbook by Nikki Van De Car, illustrated by Uta Kroggman

This kid-friendly guidebook contains basic rituals and “white magic” spell work to provide an introductory glance into modern paganism. It is a light, friendly text with easy to understand directions and a little history mixed in with the description of rites and magical tools. Parents may wish to read the book ahead of time, and address any aspects which may be seen as potentially problematic in some pagan social circles or possible cultural appropriation elements (ie: the use of Palo Santo, information about chakras, etc.) Use this book as a springboard for discussion and allow youth to explore what religion or spirituality might mean for them, and foundations of other schools of thought, encouraging the idea of freedom of religion in the process! Aimed at ages 8 through 12 or so, and does have a more girl-centric theme rather than being as accessible to all genders, so bear in mind when purchasing.

Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez

A graphic novel aimed at the 11+ age group, but may be accessible to younger readers with parental guidance. This one will be most relatable to creative artistic kiddos, as it centers around Sandy, a young girl who catches little twinkling stars and utilizes them to create imaginative creatures and works of art. Things take a turn when a mysterious new girl, Morfie, shows up at school. With a story that is at once both empathetic and equally frightening, young readers can navigate the difficulties of overcoming fear and harnessing our inner desires and anxieties to become something more. Full of vibrant, beautiful artwork and a few two-page spreads with incredible imagery! This one may require a parent to be nearby in case the story gets a little too nefarious or frightening, and some of the subject matter may merit a gentle discussion between parent-and-child. Some folks may take issue with its “anti-organized religion” tones, but parents looking for something that encourages other schools of thought will probably want to check this out! As a head’s up, the ending of this story is also a bit open ended, left to the reader’s interpretation for the time being; however, it is intended to get a sequel installment as far as I know! The intended age for this is 8 through 12, but it may be better suited for a mature 10/11/12 year old; younger readers may be a bit more unsettled.

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

Consider this one a kid’s introduction to the Magical Realism genre of literature. This is an Own Voices graphic novel aimed at older elementary school through middle school readers. Young Priyanka wants to learn more about her family history and her father, something her mother does not often speak of. After uncovering a beautiful pashmina amongst the family’s things, Priyanka embarks on a magical journey that takes her back to her mother’s homeland. Covering themes of first-generation children of immigrants, cultural practices and belief systems of India, and plenty of Eastern religious symbols, this magical graphic novel is a much-needed piece of representation for young readers. This is the perfect book for Indian-American readers, but it also will be a wonderful gift to children of other ethnic backgrounds by helping them build meaningful connections and empathetic understanding of different cultures. Like some of the other entries on this list, the topics may require some parental guidance for thoughtful discussion (such as single parent life or “unwed mothers” and social issues surrounding the two.) This one is aimed at the 5th through 8th grade set (around ages 10-14.)

Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer

Have you ever felt so immersed in a book that the land within it seems real? Do you find yourself wishing that you could meet your favorite characters, and be their best friend? Alex and Conner do just that very thing in this tale about magic, mystery, and fantasy. While in the magical fairytale kingdom, Alex and Conner must forge alliances and make new friends if they hold any hope of escaping back to reality! Though the concept and story elements are far from unique nor wholly original, there’s a reason why this content pops up again and again -- kids LOVE it! And isn’t’ that what reading is all about? You’re supposed to enjoy it! The book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but if your young readers are super into it there’s a whole series of books to be devoured! It is a book aimed at the tweens, but adults may enjoy it as a read-aloud to the smaller set if they wish to take a trip down memory lane.

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellr

Move over Hermione, and make room for Moth - a young girl in Massachusetts who loves and knows just about everything there is to know about witches! Everything, that is, except her family’s connection to her town’s magical history and connections to witchcraft. When her powers begin to awaken, Moth is in for quite the surprise when she falls into another secret universe, but with the help of a magical smooth-talking cat to pal around with? She may just find she’s stronger than she thinks! It’s got a great blend of mystery and humor, and is jam packed with vibrant, colorful, and weirdly whimsical illustrations, this graphic novel is going to be a big hit, especially with reluctant readers. A story about empowerment, finding and accepting yourself, and never giving up this one is relatable for just about all tweens and young teens.

By Ellen Avigliano

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